Written Answers Thursday 26 March 2009

Scottish Executive

Asylum Seekers

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on any progress on implementing the alternatives to detention pilot for asylum-seeking families announced by the Secretary of State for Scotland in 2008.

Alex Neil: The pilot has not yet formally started but is expected to do so soon. The planning process, engagement with external stakeholders and the recruitment of staff to run the project are currently taking place.

  This pilot will help reduce the number of families detained in Scotland.

Education

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children in primaries one to three were in classes of 18 or under in Dumfries and Galloway in (a) 2006 and (b) 2008.

Keith Brown: The figures are published in Pupils in Scotland 2008 , available on the government website at the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/23125339/79 .

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out an economic impact assessment on the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: Along with a standard regulatory impact assessment, a significant amount of additional economic research was carried out to help shape the quota and licensing proposals. This includes research on producer organisations, quota holding and inshore management.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out a risk assessment on the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: We have undertaken a regulatory impact assessment of our proposals to consider any impacts arising for businesses.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system will place on non-Scottish boats working out of and landing at Scottish ports.

Richard Lochhead: No restrictions are proposed for non-Scottish boats currently working out of and landing at Scottish ports. Our proposals are designed to ensure no detriment arises to fishermen elsewhere in the UK.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what power it has to remove fishing quotas from owners who do not sign up to the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: We are confident that our proposals are both legal and enforceable.

Flood Prevention

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rising cost of the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme will be factored into the financial support provided to the City of Edinburgh Council.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Water of Leith Scheme was taken into account in the allocation of resources to the City of Edinburgh Council and included within the local government finance settlement for 2008 to 2011. It is entirely a matter for the council to allocate their total resources to meet local needs and circumstances.

  While some elements of the scheme have been constructed, I understand the council is currently evaluating the tenders submitted for the main works with a view to its construction over the next three years, starting in the summer. I wrote last month to the council asking them to keep us fully informed of the council’s likely commitments in respect of this scheme for the next spending review.

Housing

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reduce the 7% interest rate that it charges to crofters for housing loans to help relieve the burden of the current economic downturn.

Roseanna Cunningham: A fixed interest rate applies to loans provided to crofters under the former Crofters etc Building Grants & Loans Scheme (CBGLS). From 27 May 1982 the applicable interest rate was 7% over a period of up to 40 years. The scheme was closed to new applicants on 31 December 2004, when it was replaced by the Croft House Grants Scheme (CHGS).

  CBGLS loans may be discharged without penalty. However, the Scottish Government is unable to provide a replacement loan under the present CHGS. We shall, however, consider this issue as part of the review of housing grants to rural areas which we announced in response to the recommendations of the Shucksmith Inquiry.

Justice

Dave Thompson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish criminal law is sufficient to deal with the activities of loan sharks.

Kenny MacAskill: It is unacceptable for people to make profits from others’ financial desperation. Illegal and extortionate money lending and the criminal behaviour that often goes with it is abhorrent in modern society.

  While the Consumer Credit Act 1974 which regulates money lending is reserved, the Scottish Government is doing what it can to tackle this trade.

  As the First Minister indicated on 19 March, we will be consulting shortly on adding illegal money lending to the list of specific offences that are deemed to be criminal lifestyle offences in Scotland under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

  Our Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill contains important measures to help tackle serious organised crime, including new offences of involvement in or directing serious organised crime. The bill will also make it easier for the courts to impose non-harassment orders, improving the protection available to the victims of loan sharks.

Physical Education

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much physical activity, physical education and activity to promote physical literacy must be provided to each three and four-year-old in nursery schools.

Keith Brown: Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching sets out the government’s expectation that children and young people are entitled to two hours of quality physical education per week. This is in addition to physical activity and sport. The experiences and outcomes which support Curriculum for Excellence articulate what children are entitled to as they progress through the curriculum levels. In the early phase, the physical education strand of Health and Wellbeing will provide opportunities for children to develop movement skills, competencies and concepts in a number of ways including through practice and energetic play.

Roads

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which road upgrades it has prioritised for the remainder of the parliamentary session.

Stewart Stevenson: The road upgrades prioritised for the remainder of the parliamentary session remain those set out in our statement of 27 June 2007. An updated programme is due to be published on the Transport Scotland website before the Easter recess.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is contributing to the economic recovery programme.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is working with Scottish Government to identify a range of ways to help businesses in the current economic climate. This work includes waiving SEPA’s application charges; working with Scottish Enterprise and others to develop environmental and clean technologies, and improving SEPA’s engagement in the planning process. We will continue to work with SEPA to identify further action it can take to contribute to Scotland’s economic recovery.

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on staffing of the reduction to the Regional Transport Partnership Travel Plan Grant for 2009-10.

Stewart Stevenson: The delivery of the terms and conditions of this grant is an issue for the Regional Transport Partnerships (RTPs). The Scottish Government discussed the impact and as a result developed the grant with incremental reductions, to achieve the mainstreaming of travel planning within the RTPs.

  I am delighted that RTPs have either made the travel plan officers permanent members of staff or have raised travel planning as a priority within existing functions and processes.

Young People

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the impact of sentencing on the children of offenders while developing the Scottish Sentencing Council.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to providing support to children and families who have a family member in prison.

  The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, published on 6 March, sets out for the first time statutory statement of the purposes and principles of sentencing. Included among the principles of sentencing is the requirement for the courts to have regard to information before them about the circumstances of the offender including, for example, the offender’s family circumstances.